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By Jon Tatting
editor.countynews@ecm-inc.com
District 911 administrators and a handful of concerned citizens discussed the upcoming operating levy election over cups of joe and under a casual, comfy setting Monday night at Rendezvous Coffee in Isanti.
At the Oct. 12 community meeting, a trio of Isanti-based principals and School Board Member Gary Hawkins presented and fielded questions on the proposed two-part levy referendum that would generate $3 million a year for 10 years.
It’s designed to keep Cambridge-Isanti schools from allowing larger class sizes and cutting $2 million worth of student opportunities, programs and staff. The district has made over $5 million in budget cuts in the past five years
“What if the levy gets shot down?” asked Isanti resident Bill Ubel, referring to the economy and its impact on young people moving away due in part to foreclosures and jobs. “People need to know the consequences.”
Cambridge-Isanti’s current operating levy—totalling $108.61 per pupil, having generated $603,629 each year since 2004—will expire at the end of this school year. If not renewed, the district will be faced with a goose egg after June 30, 2010.
The problem, voiced Isanti Intermediate School Principal Mark Ziebarth, is that state funding is not keeping up with growing expenses such as gasoline, heat, energy and other commodities needed to run a school district.
In light of the Nov. 3 special referendum election, question #1 will ask voters to pass $288.73 per pupil. This would raise $1,604,695 per year. Of this amount, $226,165 would be additional state aid that the district would not receive without this levy.
Question #2, meanwhile, is asking for an additional $319.88 per pupil, which would raise an additional $1,777,820 per year. Of this amount, $250,565 would be additional state aid the district would not receive without this levy.
In other words, the failed levy requests would mean District 911 would lose out on a total of $450,000 in additional state aid to other school districts that have approved similar proposals, said administrators at the meeting.
Further, administrators addressed taxpayer cost. The increase in tax on the average home if question #1 passes is $64.93. With the second question, it’s $117.44.
The total cost on the average home if both questions pass: $182.37, or about $15 per month as reflected on the school portion of one’s property tax bill.
(Log onto www.cambridge.k12.mn.us for the district’s “Referendum Information and Tax Calculator” link. It will help estimate the tax effect for residential, agriculture and other properties.)
Taking more comments from the public, administrators heard again from Ubel who voiced concern over the brochure that was mailed out to district residents.
“Sometimes first impressions can be last impressions,” he said. “The brochure failed to provide detailed information. I didn’t (find) absolute need. There is a significant population that is not directly involved with the schools, and you need to reach them.”
Speaking on the need issue, Shawn Springob, of the Long Lake area, noted that while she has a son who makes the A-honor roll, her daughter qualifies for targeted services and special needs programs. “They are needed,” she said of the district’s services.
Regarding the brochure, Principal Ziebarth noted the district must use certain language and be limited with its message per state laws.
Added Board Member Gary Hawkins, “The school district cannot promote a yes vote.”
Springob said she’d like to see a list of programs that have already been cut.
Another man asked “how do we compare this district with others?” Administrators responded with a prepared slide show:
The average operating levy for fiscal year 2010 in the state of Minnesota is $825, compared to Cambridge-Isanti’s current levy at $108.61. Yet if both questions pass at $608.61, the district is still well below the state average.
Overall, if question #1 passes, District 911 will still need to make reductions in fiscal 2011. If the second question passes, the district estimates (through current information available) it shouldn’t have to make reductions in the next two fiscal years.
Hawkins continued, “Cambridge-Isanti does a good job with the funding available, but without a levy, many services and programs will keep being cut.”
Said Ziebarth, the district currently ranks 318th out of the 339 Minnesota school districts in terms of per-student revenue. “We’re on the lower end of the list,” he noted.
The next public information meeting will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at Isanti Middle School/Minnesota Center. The next will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Cambridge Intermediate School.
Polling places for the Nov. 3 levy referendum election are Cambridge City Center Mall and Isanti City Hall. Doors will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Residents can also vote by absentee ballot. Call District 911 Election administrator Diane Wicht at 763-689-6212.
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